What is Cleaning a route?

by Graham
(Kentucky)

What is "cleaning" pertaining to sport climbing? I've heard it used in context like "clean the route" using webbing / runners.

Graham that is a great question.

After leading a sport route you need to get all of your draws back so you clean the route. Here is the process you get to the anchors have your partner take out all of the slack.

Then you clip yourself directly to the anchor with runners, daisy chain, quickdraws, whatever.

You will then untie your rope and feed it through the anchor and retie back in or pull even rope through so both ends are on the ground. After that you either lower down or rappel.

As you lower you grab all your gear and the route should be clean meaning have no draws on it.

Please don't try to clean routes without the help of an experienced climber if you have never done it before.

the climbing expert